To celebrate earth day LWC invited volunteers to help in a clean-up along the river that runs through the park. I too was assigned to help and at 9 O’clock I met up with some of the education staff near the gate and we were joined by about 50 school children from the city. The river has lots of debris from the high water during the rainy season and that includes plenty of plastic bottles and other rubbish. So we spent the morning clambering about the slippery banks and fallen trees along the river collecting a good truckload of rubbish. Lots of fun, educational and useful, but the high point of the day was when some girls climbed up on to a tree trunk and spotted a crocodile in the water on the other side; everyone was thrilled.

Since I had no other duties that morning I had set out early to do some birdwatching along the river. It’s very difficult to get good views of birds in the dense woodland, but I got lucky and saw some nice birds (Black-collared Barbet, Tambourine Dove, Livingstone’s Turaco) and even got a good photo of these African Black Ducks.

African Black Duck

Lingadzi River

In the afternoon I finally finished my Chameleon cage project and moved him/her in.  Alma, our Dutch Animal Naturopath is still giving him an antibiotic cream for his eyes but we both think something more delicate is needed. I wrote to a friend of mine who is a very good homeopath and have received some suggestions – perhaps we will try something different tomorrow (if Alma can find her homeopathic remedies).

Alma with “Derek” the Chameleon

Chameleon Cage

It’s pretty hectic – I am busy almost all day, but it’s really fun. Every day is completely different. It all happens in a space of about 1 square kilometre. Except for a quick shopping trip into town I have seen nothing of the country around here but there’s plenty to keep me interested and to enjoy in this little microcosm. In the evening Simba roars  ; he may have been rescued from a circus and has a bad hip, but he is still the king of the African night.

Simba